Daily Mail

WHY RORY IS SO KEEN TO SIGN OFF ON A HIGH

After a season without victory...

- by DEREK LAWRENSON

MANCHESTER United legend Roy Keane should have been someone Rory McIlroy idolised growing up, given his lifelong support of the club.

However, in what ought to prove a cautionary tale for superstars who think they are too big to sign autographs, McIlroy made the admission yesterday that he has never liked Keane (below) after being snubbed by him as a child.

McIlroy was asked about handing a golf ball to a fan at the British Masters last week, and how the boy’s overjoyed reaction went viral on social media.

‘It’s lovely when you can do that, but it can work both ways,’ he said. ‘I remember approachin­g someone for an autograph when I was that age and they didn’t give it to me and I’ve never liked them since.’

Most other sportsmen would have stopped at this point, and batted back the inevitable requests from journalist­s to shame the culprit. Not Rory, God love him. ‘ It was Roy Keane, who should be one of my heroes,’ he said, instantly. ‘I went and asked him for an autograph at the Portmarnoc­k Links hotel when he was with the Ireland squad and he said no. It stuck with me. I’m sure he’s all right but I’ve never forgotten it. That’s why, when a kid asks me for an autograph, I always try to do it.’ McIlroy has alluded to his dislike of Keane once before, without disclosing the reason. When Keane and former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson were having one of their intermitte­nt squabbles, McIlroy was asked how much he would pay to watch them in a boxing ring together. ‘I’d pay a lot to watch Sir Alex knock him out and shut him up for good,’ replied McIlroy. McIlroy was in good spirits ahead of his final appearance of the season in the Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews. He arrives after returning the lowest, final 36-hole total of his career at Close House last weekend, where he shot 64-63 to finish runner- up behind an Irishman he does like, Paul Dunne.

‘It’s a good time to be playing my best golf of the season, isn’t it?’ he said wryly, as he seeks to close out his disappoint­ing campaign with a first win.

McIlroy will play alongside his father Gerry in the pro-am format, and while the event has a relaxed feel it is an important one for Tommy Fleetwood as he seeks to extend his lead at the top of the Race to Dubai. Not that that was at the forefront of his mind yesterday.

Like any proud new father, Fleetwood could not wait to show off videos of his baby son, Franklin, who was born last week. ‘Look at him yawn!’ he said.

Speaking of yawning, Franklin got to watch his first football match on Sunday, Fleetwood holding him in his arms for 90 minutes as Burnley beat his beloved Everton.

‘I don’t think he’s going to be a blue nose after watching that,’ said Fleetwood.

It is amazing how many golfers who become fathers for the first time start playing well when they come back out on tour.

Perhaps the ultimate example was Danny Willett winning the Masters a week after becoming a father last year.

‘Having now gone through it, what Danny did just seems unbelievab­le,’ said Fleetwood. ‘It takes your mind off the game. I played for the first time today for what felt like a year and it felt good.’

Fleetwood is just under a million points ahead at the top, with his nearest rivals Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm not playing this week.

First prize is worth another £670,000.

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SNS GROUP Finding form: McIlroy at St Andrews yesterday
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